The Bridge Program is a comprehensive developmental program designed for those students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission to the University and for those who are not yet prepared to enroll in Mathematical Structures (MATH 105) or College Algebra (MATH 111) and/or English Composition and Rhetoric I (ENGL 111). Faculty from the Departments of English and Mathematics offer instruction and review in grammar, composition, critical reading and critical thinking, study and test taking skills, and elementary algebra.

Students in the Bridge Program are accepted to the university under one of the following three classifications:

Full Bridge Program

English-only Bridge Program

Math-only Bridge Program

Requirements: Students admitted through the Bridge Program may satisfy their English 099 and/or Math 099 requirements in the following ways.

Pass English 099 and/or Math 099 with a ‘C’ or better during the Fall or Spring semesters (or during the Summer Bridge Academy, by invitation only.)

Obtain a sufficient score on the Compass Placement Exam in English and/or Mathematics to be “placed” into English 111 or Math 111.

Students may take English 099 and/or Math 099 at CSU during the Fall, Spring and/or Summer semesters under the following guidelines:

Students admitted to CSU as English Bridge only or Math Bridge only will be invited to be part of our Bridge Summer Academy. If the student elects to participate, but is unsuccessful in the appropriate 099 course, the student will still have the next two major semesters (Fall and Spring) to attempt to successfully complete the Bridge Program requirements.

Students who are not eligible for or elect not to participate in the Summer Bridge Academy will be allotted two attempts (Fall and Spring semesters) to successfully complete the Bridge Program requirements. Students who are unsuccessful in at most one of their 099 required courses AND have the equivalent of a 1.4 GPA or better over the course of their Fall and Spring semesters (099 courses included) at CSU will have the option of taking the 099 course for a third time during the summer at CSU before being Bridge suspended from the university.

Students who are not eligible for or elect not to participate in the Summer Bridge Academy, who are unsuccessful in at most one of their 099 required courses AND have the equivalent of a 1.4 GPA or better over the course of their Fall and Spring semesters (099 courses included) at CSU, but do not or cannot take the 099 course for a third time during the summer at CSU will be placed on Bridge Program suspension. However, these students may gain readmission to CSU by simply completing a course deemed equivalent to the appropriate 099 course with a grade of ‘C’ or better. The equivalent course must be preapproved by the Director of the Bridge Program with assistance from the appropriate (English or Math) coordinator.

Students who are unsuccessful in both their Fall and Spring attempts in an 099 course and do not meet the requirements listed in guidelines 1 through 3 will not be eligible to return to CSU as above. These students may reapply for admission to the university once they have met the requirements for transfer student admission as listed in this catalog.

Bridge students may take the English 099 and/or Math 099 course no more than three times, and these three attempts must all occur within one calendar year, beginning with their first full-time semester at CSU, or with enrollment in the Bridge Summer Academy.

Other Policies: Students admitted to Charleston Southern University as Bridge students need to also be aware of the following restrictions and policies:

Students accepted as Bridge students must enroll in their required Bridge classes their first semester at the university and may not withdraw from their required Bridge courses. Exceptions to this policy may not be granted without express written permission of the Director of The Bridge Program.

Passing English 099 and/or Math 099 classes is the critical determiner in any successful progression from the Bridge Program to the regular curriculum. Therefore, to insure that students are adequately prepared to handle the academic material on the next level, students must pass their ENGL 099 and MATH 099 classes with a grade of “C” or better. These courses count for institutional credit, but do not count toward any degree program or graduation requirement. Specifically, MATH 099 and ENGL 099 credit hours are not included when the Registrar’s Office checks for the minimum hours required for graduation. Students must earn a minimum of 125 credit hours for graduation, beyond the 099 course level. Other graduation requirements apply (see “Graduation Information and Requirements” in this catalog).

In order to continue as a student at CSU, the Bridge Program admitted student must pass all required Bridge classes within the first thirty (30) hours attempted. (The Director of the Bridge Program or the Director of Student Success may make exceptions to this rule based on class availability.)

Intended Music majors accepted to the university as Bridge students may be enrolled in only two (2) music ensembles and two (2) private music lesson courses each semester while the student is taking Bridge courses. They may not enroll in music theory classes.

Those Bridge students who fail ENGL 099 or MATH 099 after one attempt will be placed on Bridge Probation and will receive a warning letter from the registrar’s office that the student in question has only one remaining chance to fulfill his or her admissions requirements. Exception: Those students whose first attempt at English 099 or Math 099 occurs in the Bridge Summer Academy will not receive Bridge Probation status for failing in the summer.

All Bridge students are assigned a Bridge advisor and must meet with that advisor THREE times during the semester.

Attendance: All students enrolled in Bridge courses should note the attendance policy for these courses (see also Attendance in this catalog). A student will receive a grade of “FA” (failure for absences) upon accumulating the following absences:

Classes meeting five hours per week

10

Classes meeting four times per week

8

Classes meeting three times per week

7

Classes meeting two times per week

5

Classes meeting one time per week

3

Appeals: Those students wishing to appeal their Unsatisfactory Progress in the Bridge Program status should first contact the instructor and the Director of the Bridge Program if possible. A written appeal must be submitted to the Registrar as soon as possible, who will then present the request to the Admissions Committee which meets shortly after each Fall and Spring semester.

The Bridge Program Course Descriptions

MATH 099 - Beginning Algebra

(4 hours) Prerequisites: Admission to CSU through the Bridge Program (SAT Math score below 440 or ACT Math score below 19) or appropriate score on the MATH Placement Exam. A course in basic algebra skills for students who are deemed at risk in the area of Mathematics. Topics include properties of the real numbers; fundamental operations with linear expressions, solutions of linear equations and inequalities; operations on polynomial expressions, including polynomial division; graphing linear equations on the Cartesian Coordinate system; functions; factoring of quadratic and other polynomial expressions; solving quadratic equations; operations on rational and radical expressions; solving rational and radical equations. Course is required of students accepted Into the Bridge program. Class meets 4 lecture hours and a (minimum of one) 30-minute individual tutoring appointment every week. Students must pass the course with a ‘C’ or better before matriculating from the Bridge Program and/or to any other Mathematics course. This course may not be attempted more than twice. Students receive institutional credit only. Note: 099 courses will be calculated in student GPAs but will not be included in the earned hours toward graduation (CSU students typically need 125 hours for graduation).

ENGL 099 - Fundamentals of Writing and Mechanics

(4 hours) Prerequisite: Admission to CSU through the Bridge Program (Critical Reading SAT below 480 or English ACT below 19), or appropriate score on the English Placement Exam. For students who are deemed at risk in these areas of English, the course concentrates on development of practical writing skills, focusing on the writing process in development of essays, understanding of rhetorical strategies, and conventions of grammar and usage. This course emphasizes college level composition and is intended to facilitate transition into English 111. Minimum grade of “C” or better before matriculating from the Bridge program and/or to any other English course. This course may not be attempted more than twice. Students receive institutional credit only. Note: 099 courses will be calculated in student GPAs but will not be included in the earned hours toward graduation (CSU students typically need 125 hours for graduation).

GNED 107 - College Reading and Study Skills for the Christian College

(3 hours) Prerequisite: Freshman Bridge students only. A course designed to develop the complex reading and study skills essential for successful participation in university curriculum. Focuses on content area reading and study strategies, reading and critical thinking skills. A focus on the nature of learning and the individual’s responsibility to learn. An introduction to the Christian worldview and its application in Christian higher education, with emphasis on critical thinking skills necessary for college-level academic work and for other issues commonly facing colllege students. General elective credit. Note: Required for all Bridge students.